Unbelief and Doubt

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Chapter 93: Unbelief and Doubt

After putting away the Alchemy cauldron, Xiao Yan finished paying the bill and was about to leave.

At that moment, a mercenary hurriedly entered the Wan Yao Pharmacy. Upon seeing Boss Yao, he quickly called out.

"Boss Yao! Something's happened!"

"Huh? What happened?"

Boss Yao was slightly stunned. The mercenary had just caught his breath, scanned the hall, and then asked Boss Yao.

"Where's Little Fairy Doctor?"

"Xian'er? She's currently..."

Boss Yao was about to answer when he heard some noise outside. Xiao Yi Xian walked out of the kitchen, looking at the mercenary in confusion.

"What's going on?"

"Little Fairy Doctor! Something's happened!" The mercenary immediately spoke as soon as he saw her. "There are rumors in the town saying that you killed members of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group for treasure!"

"Huh? Who said that?"

Xiao Yi Xian was suddenly stunned, but the mercenary shook his head.

"I don't know. It's just that everyone in the town has been spreading it, and no one knows who started it."

Upon hearing the mercenary's words, Xiao Yan's face instantly turned cold. Xiao Yi Xian and Boss Yao also looked very displeased.

It didn't take much to figure out that this rumor had definitely come from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group.

"Very well. Looks like I underestimated Mu Li's shamelessness."

Xiao Yi Xian murmured coldly, her opinion of Mu Li had already dropped to the lowest point.

How could a man be so shameless?!

"Don't worry about it!" Xiao Yi Xian said sharply, her eyes showing no trace of fear. "I have a clear conscience in what I do! The Wolf Head Mercenary Group deserves it! I'll see if the people in this town believe in me or the rumors!"

Xiao Yi Xian was confident. While she didn't have complete control over the town, at the very least, her reputation was the highest in the entire town!

Such rumors had no effect on her, and no one would believe them!

However, despite Xiao Yi Xian's confidence, Boss Yao frowned deeply and said in a low voice.

"No, Xian'er, you can't ignore this." Boss Yao looked at Xiao Yi Xian seriously. "You must find a way to explain."

Boss Yao's words caused Xiao Yi Xian's brows to furrow as she shot him an unhappy look.

"Boss Yao! Do you really think the people in town would believe such rumors?!"

"I absolutely believe in Little Fairy Doctor!!!"

The mercenary immediately raised his hand to show his support.

However, Boss Yao sighed lightly, his gaze serious as he looked at Xiao Yi Xian.

"Xian'er, whether the residents believe you or not isn't important, at least for now. What's important is whether they'll start doubting you because of this."

"...What's the difference?"

Xiao Yi Xian's face darkened, and she seemed a bit confused about the difference between these two things.

Not believing and doubting aren't the same thing? Why was Boss Yao separating them?

Before Boss Yao could continue explaining, Xiao Yan spoke with a cold face.

"Doubt is like a seed, and it's more dangerous than disbelief." Xiao Yan clenched his fists, his black eyes full of coldness. "The purpose of this rumor is not to make everyone believe it immediately, but to plant doubt in their hearts about you."

"Your past actions will naturally prevent people from believing the rumor, but psychologically, people will inevitably feel some uncertainty."

"Could it be that Little Fairy Doctor is really that kind of person? Could it be that she was pretending all along? Could it be that we've been wrong about her?"

"Doubts like these will inevitably arise in people's minds because of this rumor, and they can't be avoided."

"If we let this rumor fester, when the time is right, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group will start releasing more negative information about you, like the mercenaries who died in the team you were with yesterday. By then, the trust people have in you will inevitably shift towards disbelief."

"Xiao Yan is right." Boss Yao agreed strongly with Xiao Yan's words, looking at Xiao Yi Xian. "If you don't do something now, once the Wolf Head Mercenary Group releases what they consider to be evidence, you'll be unable to defend yourself."

"This is something I usually do."

Xiao Yan's words stunned Xiao Yi Xian. Just as she was about to say something, Boss Yao interrupted her.

"Xian'er, you can't expect everyone to be able to distinguish right from wrong clearly. Most people are just ordinary people, and it's natural for them to start doubting you because of the rumors."

Boss Yao said seriously. Xiao Yi Xian finally fell silent.

Boss Yao was right. Most people were just ordinary, and she couldn't expect them to have the insight of a judge. If they could, rumors would never spread in the first place.

"So what do I do now? Should I go out and explain to everyone immediately?" Xiao Yi Xian spread her hands in frustration. "But if I go out and explain now, it will only make me seem guilty, right? It would be better not to explain at all."

Hearing Xiao Yi Xian's words, Boss Yao frowned deeply, looking troubled.

No matter what the truth was, the current fact was that only Mu Li returned alive from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group that Xiao Yi Xian had been with, and she had indeed acquired a lot of treasures, perfectly matching the rumors.

If she were to explain what happened yesterday in the Magic Beast Mountain Range and tell the people of Qing Shan Town about Mu Li and his subordinates' actions, everyone would definitely side with her without hesitation.

But now, it was too late.

The Wolf Head Mercenary Group had made the first move, putting Xiao Yi Xian in a completely passive position. Even if she told the truth now, everyone would just think she was turning things around.

Just like she said, no matter what she said now, it would be better not to explain.

As Boss Yao felt more and more helpless, Xiao Yan suddenly stood up and said to him.

"Boss Yao, I'll take my leave now."

"Huh?"

Boss Yao was suddenly stunned. Before he could respond, Xiao Yan had already turned and left the Wan Yao Pharmacy. It wasn't until Xiao Yan had walked far away that Boss Yao came to his senses and hurriedly chased after him, shouting.

"Xiao Yan! Come back!"

However, when Boss Yao chased outside and looked at the bustling street, he could no longer find Xiao Yan.

"That kid..."

Boss Yao muttered unwillingly. Xiao Yi Xian suddenly understood something and furrowed her brows tightly.

"Boss Yao, is Xiao Yan thinking..."

"Ah, he's probably right."

Boss Yao covered half of his face, a look of guilt on it.

If it were anyone else, leaving at this time might be to avoid getting caught up in the trouble, especially since the rumor only mentioned Xiao Yi Xian and didn't implicate anyone else.

But Boss Yao knew very well that Xiao Yan was not that kind of person.

Therefore, the only reason Xiao Yan would leave at this point was one thing.

He wanted to take all of this upon himself.

(End of Chapter)

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500 power stones = 8 chapter